BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — When sophomore Kayla Cruz got a chance to play with McAllen Rowe’s varsity team early last season, she quickly realized she wasn’t ready.

With Klarissa Gomez a near certainty to play most of the points at libero, Cruz asked to be sent back down to junior varsity, where she could practice and improve. She never realized coach Magda Canales would give her a second shot at varsity play just a year later.

“But thank God she did, because I love playing with varsity,” Cruz said. “It’s a great feeling.”

With four stellar seniors leading the attack, the biggest question facing the Lady Warriors this season was the defense. Cruz has quickly stepped forward to answer the call, helping McAllen Rowe (31-9, 4-1) maintain its place as one of the best teams in the Valley.

“Even at times when she’s been a little under the weather, a little sick, she’s been able to perform regardless,” Canales said. “She’s been doing really well.”

Canales consistently referred to Cruz’s mental toughness as her biggest strength. In the battle for the starting libero position, that attribute was what most set Cruz apart.

“You can do anything physically, but if your mentality is not there, you’re nothing,” Cruz said. “You’re going to fall and break down. I just try to keep myself up, and I don’t let anything bring me down.”

Despite being only a sophomore, Cruz has no fear playing aggressively — going full speed after every ball.

Even against the heavy hitters from McAllen High and McAllen Memorial, Cruz wants the hit to come her way.

“She’s so mentally tough that not too much fazes her,” Canales said. “If the serve is coming strong, she’ll raise her hand. She wants that tough serve. She’s always ready to face challenges.”

Cruz said that mentality comes somewhat naturally to her, but she added that she’s also worked at it. Canales said she thinks the assertiveness came from Cruz’s time on JV last season, where she was more comfortable stepping forward and leading.

Developing resiliency in her players is always one of Canales’ major focuses. She asks the Lady Warriors to imagine being pressed flat up against a wall. Are they going to fight, or are they going to fold?

Those lessons have especially stuck with Cruz, who has excelled at bouncing back from errors.

“I just learned how to shake off my mistakes, because I know I can get it back,” Cruz said. “I talk a lot more. I show aggressiveness, because that’s what coach likes. I just try to stand out from everyone else.”

Cruz didn’t enter this season as a lock for the starting spot, opening the year on JV as Canales kept testing different combinations. Cruz first put on the varsity libero jersey during tournament action in San Antonio, fighting off some nerves to take hold of the job.

“Everything that we want her to do, she’s there all the time,” senior Mayda Garcia said. “She may be off some games, but it’s OK, because she’s our motivator.”

Cruz said she’s made a point of keeping the team’s spirits high. She has looked to Garcia and junior defensive specialist Brianna Chaidez for tips on how opponents are lining up and what she needs to do differently to pick up their hits.

Playing with a strong senior class of Garcia, Ryela Rodriguez, Deanna Spear and Sophia Luna is a luxury for Cruz, but not one she takes lightly. She said she feels added pressure playing a major role in how their final season plays out.
“It’s like, ‘Oh my Gosh, I need to step up,’” Cruz said. “I’m just trying to help them be up there, so I don’t be the one bringing them down. … It’s an honor, because they’re really good, and I didn’t think I could do it.”

So far, so good. Garcia said Cruz has played “amazing” this season, adding that Rowe’s defense has the potential to be just as strong as it was last year.

Canales said that defense is always a priority over offense during early-season practices, and that the team has made massive improvements since the start of the season.

Even Cruz has been taken aback by her own play.

“I never believed in myself that I would have this opportunity,” Cruz said. “Seeing my stats in the newspaper, it really surprises me. Like, ‘Wow, I have that many digs?’ It’s just crazy. I love it.”

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Saturday, Sept. 26

Non-District

Juan Diego Academy def. La Joya High 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, 25-16

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe def. Mission High 25-14, 25-15, 25-20

McAllen Memorial def. McAllen High 22-25, 25-17, 15-25, 25-20, 15-12

La Joya Palmview def. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 25-10, 27-25, 25-10

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial def. Weslaco High 25-19, 25-15, 25-16

PSJA North def. Weslaco East 14-25, 25-16, 25-11, 25-12

Edinburg High def. Edinburg Economedes 25-7, 25-8, 25-12

District 32-6A

Los Fresnos def. Brownsville Rivera 25-9, 25-11, 25-13

Brownsville Veterans def. Harlingen High 25-14, 25-20, 25-16

Brownsville Hanna def. Harlingen South 25-17, 25-21, 25-19

San Benito def. Brownsville Lopez

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer def. Sharyland High 25-17, 25-11, 16-25, 25-21

Mission Veterans def. Valley View 25-9, 25-8, 25-19

Edinburg Vela def. Rio Grande City 25-9, 25-5, 25-14

District 32-5A

Brownsville Pace def. Donna North 25-17, 25-22, 25-18

PSJA High def. Mercedes 25-17, 25-20, 25-22

Donna High def. Brownsville Porter 25-17, 25-15, 25-18

Edcouch-Elsa def. PSJA Southwest 25-14, 26-24, 25-16

District 32-4A

Port Isabel def. Hidalgo 25-18, 27-25, 15-25, 25-17

Grulla def. Raymondville 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22

La Feria def. Rio Hondo 25-13, 25-21, 25-23

Zapata def. Progreso

District 32-3A

Monte Alto at IDEA Quest, not reported

District 32-2A

San Perlita def. La Villa 25-17, 25-17, 25-22

Tuesday, Sept. 29

District 30-6A

La Joya High at McAllen Rowe, 6:30 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at PSJA Memorial, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg Economedes, 7 p.m.

Edinburg High at Weslaco East, 7 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Hanna, 6:30 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Lopez at Harlingen High, 6:30 p.m.

Harlingen South at San Benito, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Roma at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Sharyland High at Valley View, 7 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Rio Grande City, 7 p.m.

District 32-5A

Donna High at Donna North, 7 p.m.

Mercedes at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

PSJA High at Brownsville Porter, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Zapata at La Feria, 6:30 p.m.

Progreso at Port Isabel, 6:30 p.m.

Raymondville at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

Grulla at Rio Hondo, 7 p.m.

District 32-3A

Santa Rosa at Monte Alto, 7 p.m.

District 32-2A

San Perlita at Santa Maria, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Matches

District 30-6A

McALLEN ROWE DEF. MISSION HIGH

25-14, 25-15, 25-20

McALLEN ROWE — Vanessa Lopez 22 assists, 6 digs, 2 blocks; Deanna Spear 7 assists, 30 digs, 2 blocks; Mayda Garcia 21 kills, 15 digs, 9 blocks; Kayla Cruz 27 digs; Sophia Luna 10 kills, 1 ace, 2 blocks; Ryela rodriguez 7 kills, 4 aces, 6 blocks; Karina De La Rosa 22 digs.

MISSION HIGH — Emily Alvarado 2 kills, 10 assists; Kazzy Rodriguez 23 digs; Fannie Moreno 4 aces; Nicole Reyes 9 kills, 3 blocks; Maria Garcia 3 kills, 12 digs; Michelle Madden 8 assists.

RECORDS — McAllen Rowe 31-8, 4-1; Mission High 12-16, 2-2.

LA JOYA PALMVIEW DEF. LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN

25-10, 27-25, 25-10

LA JOYA PALMVIEW — Jasmine Campos 2 kills, 8 aces, 7 assists; Alex Alaniz 7 kills, 3 aces; Michelle Duggan 5 kills; Brenda Martinez 6 kills, 2 aces; Megan Zamora 9 aces.

LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN — Not reported.

RECORDS — La Joya Palmview 4-16, 1-3; La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0-10, 0-4.

District 31-6A

PSJA NORTH DEF. WESLACO HIGH

14-25, 25-16, 25-11, 25-12

PSJA NORTH — Stephanie Crispin 17 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace; Belle Palacios 7 kills, 12 digs, 3 aces; Maryeld Gonzalez 5 kills, 6 digs, 1 ace; Sam Enriques 32 assists, 2 aces.

WESLACO HIGH — Not reported.

RECORDS — PSJA North 13-14, 3-2; Weslaco High 6-22, 0-4.

PSJA MEMORIAL DEF. WESLACO HIGH

25-19, 25-15, 25-16

PSJA MEMORIAL — Kristi Gomez 15 kills, 4 blocks; Amanda Aguilera 20 assists; Mireya Martinez 4 digs; Victoria Maldonado 4 digs.

WESLACO HIGH — None.

RECORDS — PSJA Memorial 15-7, 5-0; Weslaco High 6-22, 0-4.

District 31-5A

MISSION VETERANS DEF. VALLEY VIEW

25-9, 25-8, 25-19

MISSION VETERANS — Gabby Lerma 15 kills, 15 digs; Daisy Reyna 15 kills, 2 aces; D.D. Ibarra 5 kills, 23 assists, 10 digs, 2 blocks; Mariah Gonzalez 2 aces, 32 digs; Karina Garcia 9 assists, 3 aces, 10 digs; Jackie Howell 6 aces.

VALLEY VIEW — Not reported.

RECORDS — Mission Veterans 28-3, 4-0; Valley View 16-11, 1-3.

District 32-5A

EDCOUCH-ELSA DEF. PSJA SOUTHWEST

25-14, 26-24, 25-16

EDCOUCH-ELSA — Ashley Galarza 3 kills, 1 assist, 2 digs; Odessa Mata 2 aces, 12 digs; Jackie De Los Santos 1 kill, 34 assists, 9 digs; Samantha Martinez 14 kills, 9 assists, 4 digs; Ale Martinez 13 kills, 1 assists, 1 ace, 3 digs, 2 blocks; Cassidy Martinez 7 kills, 2 digs.

PSJA SOUTHWEST — None.

RECORDS — Edcouch-Elsa 22-9, 5-0; PSJA Southwest 11-16, 1-4.

BROWNSVILLE PACE DEF. DONNA NORTH

25-17, 25-22, 25-18

BROWNSVILLE PACE — Not reported.

DONNA NORTH — Evelyn De Leon 2 aces, 9 kills, 4 blocks; I’Dasha Sorrell 1 ace, 7 kills; Alexis Olivarez 3 kills, 1 block.

RECORDS — Donna North 10-15, 0-5; Brownsville Pace 7-11, 2-3.

District 32-4A

GRULLA DEF. RAYMONDVILLE

25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22

GRULLA — Caitlyn Rodriguez 1 ace, 27 digs; Danielle Lopez 2 aces, 2 kills, 7 assists, 14 digs; Delma Ozuna 2 aces, 12 kills, 1 block, 40 digs; Evelyn Zarate 3 kills, 4 assists, 20 digs; Leticia Flores 1 ace, 1 kill, 7 digs; Victoria Gonzalez 43 digs.

RAYMONDVILLE — Not reported.

RECORDS — Grulla 7-4, 1-4; Raymondville 0-5.

LA FERIA DEF. RIO HONDO

25-13, 25-21, 25-23

LA FERIA — Sara Alvarado 7 kills, 3 aces, 4 digs; Belisa Vela 15 kills, 1 ace, 8 digs; Annette Ruiz 20 assists, 5 digs, 1 ace; Anelli Rodriguez 4 kills, 2 blocks, 3 aces; Laura Torres 14 digs.

RIO HONDO — Not reported.

RECORDS — La Feria 10-8, 5-0; Rio Hondo 2-3.

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Sharyland High was 5 yards away from halting Edinburg Vela’s ascension to the top of the District 31-5A hierarchy, but the SaberCats’ Erick Morales wasn’t going to let his team’s win slip away.

As the Rattlers’ Seth Carter took the ball up the middle, just 5 yards from a touchdown that would erase a one-point deficit, Morales delivered a hit that forced a fumble, then scrambled to cover the ball in the back of the end zone.

The turnover with just 15 seconds to play secured Edinburg Vela’s wild 48-47 win on Friday at Cats Stadium, marking another major step in Vela’s four-year transition from bottom feeder to one of the Valley’s best.

“I still can’t believe it happened,” Morales said. “I just did what I had to do. I read the guy I had to read. It just came down to making a play.”

As Vela grew from a 0-10 season as a first-year program in 2013 all the way to last year’s 10-2 mark, Sharyland High was the one hurdle the SaberCats had yet to cross in the district. The Rattlers beat the SaberCats 69-0 in 2013, 52-28 in 2014 and 27-24 last season before Vela finally turned the tables on Friday.

“It’s a big eye-opener for a lot of us. We’ve been wanting to beat this team for a long time,” said quarterback Fabian Pedraza, who threw for 347 yards. “We started off 0-10, and look where we are now. … This year, we’re going to try to go undefeated. We’re going to try to shock some people around here.”

The margin between the two teams was razor thin, but Vela consistently made huge plays at critical moments.
With the game tied at 41 early in the fourth quarter and the SaberCats facing fourth-and-goal from the 5-yard line, coach Michael Salinas dialed up a trick play.

Wideout Elijah Reyna took the ball on a reverse and looked to throw to Pedraza before finding Eddie Luna, his second read, in the back of the end zone for the touchdown to give Vela a 7-point lead with 8:41 remaining.

“We put in the play a couple weeks ago, waiting to see if we would have an opportunity to use it,” Salinas said. “We felt big risk, big reward. For us, fortunately, it worked out.”

But Sharyland High wasn’t going to give away control of the district race without a fight.

Carter, who accounted for 510 yards of offense and six touchdowns, quickly drove the Rattlers back down the field, finding Manny Campos for a 17-yard score with 6:15 remaining. But on the point-after attempt, Vela made yet another crucial play, as Angel Ocanas came off the edge and blocked the kick to keep Vela in front 48-47. The SaberCats also blocked the point-after try on the Rattlers’ first score of the game.

“We spend a lot of time on special teams, and we try to make a difference on specials,” Salinas said. “You talk about a big one point, that was a huge one point to get that block.”

After Sharyland forced a rare punt, the Rattlers were set up to drive 79 yards for the win with 4:03 left on the clock. Carter seemed poised to head into the end zone before Morales forced and recovered the fumble that left Sharyland standing in stunned silence as Vela celebrated.

“Once the official pointed the other way, you saw the excitement on our sideline,” Salinas said. “We told our kids tonight was going to be about one play, one possession and one quarter at a time. Ironically, it was one play that made a difference.”

WORTHY FOE

Carter finished the game with 20 carries for 270 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 13 of 23 passes for 240 yards and three more scores.

“He had a monster night,” Sharyland coach Ron Adame said. “I am proud of my boys. Everybody was writing us off as has-beens, but I think tonight we proved what type of caliber team we have.”

OFFENSIVE ASSAULT

Pedraza completed 26 of 36 passes for 347 yards and three touchdowns — two to Luna, and one to Michael Arguelles.

The SaberCats also had some success on the ground, as Robert Guerra carried 24 times for 129 yards and two scores.

PENALTY PRONE

Sharyland was flagged 10 times for 105 yards, while Vela committed 11 penalties for 93 yards.

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BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

Coming into the season, PSJA Memorial volleyball coach Angie Gonzales laid out 10 laws for her team. The players repeat them before and after practice each day, enforcing ideas like always giving 100 percent and treating the team as a sisterhood.

The Wolverines have bought in, and the results are starting to show on the court. A season after finishing 5-7 in District 31-5A, PSJA Memorial is out to a 4-0 start and sits alone at the top of the standings.

“We don’t give up. When we’re under pressure, we’re able to perform,” Gonzales said. “Three years ago, when I started, that was probably one of the biggest things that I noticed that the girls didn’t have. They didn’t have hustle, or heart, or fight. They kind of just, when they were down and out, they just threw up their hands. And now they don’t. They don’t give anything up.”

On the court, one of the biggest keys has been moving the Wolverines’ top players into all-around roles. Libero Carla De Leon has become an asset setting and serving. Setter Amanda Aguilera has added serving and defense to her game. Kristi Gomez, last season’s District 31-6A newcomer of the year, has continued to be the team’s leader in kills while sprinkling in a little bit of everything else.

“I can count on them to do anything, and that’s one of our laws, too: ‘I’m going to do whatever the coach says, whenever she says, however she says to do it,’” Gonzales said. “They really believe in me.”

PSJA Memorial has also benefitted from the emergence of freshman Victoria Maldonado, who has become one of the team’s strongest defensive players.

“I brought her up planning to mold her, but she really jumped into the role and took a commanding lead in our defense,” Gonzales said. “She’s doing a great job.”

MAKING PROGRESS

Progreso’s Ari Jalomo would love to be a hitter, but she’s open to helping wherever the Lady Red Ants need her. If she sees a hole in serve receive, she’ll step in and fill it. If somebody needs to make a set off the initial pass, Jalomo can fill that role, too. The one thing that’s for sure? Jalomo will be involved on every point.

“She’ll make that decision while the game is going on, and 90 percent of the time it will work,” Progreso coach Lisa Lancaster said. “She does it year long, and it’s something she’s been doing since she was little. It’s like a second nature to her.”

That second nature has developed as a result of dedication. Now a junior, Jalomo has been a varsity regular since her freshman year. Lancaster said Jalomo “always has a volleyball in her hands,” often looking to get a little work in before basketball practices start during the offseason.

Her work has shown on the court throughout her career. She earned district newcomer of the year as a freshman, and last season was a clear choice as the district’s setter of the year.

“When I made my nomination, the best part about it is the other coaches immediately agreed,” Lancaster said. “To have coaches from other teams remember who you are as an individual, not as a team, that really says something about what you’re doing on the court.”

The Lady Red Ants have shown well as a team, too, already quadrupling last season’s four-win total with a 16-8 mark, including 3-1 in District 32-4A. Progreso has infused some young talent, and the returning players have grown more comfortable with how Lancaster runs the program during her second season at the helm.

“It’s come a long way very quickly,” Lancaster said, “and they’re taking very well to it.”

BEARING DOWN

A year after taking third place in District 32-5A with an 8-6 record, PSJA High appears on track to make another push to the playoffs.

Through four matches, the Bears are 3-1, including a win against Donna High and a loss to Edcouch-Elsa, the two teams that shared the district title last year.

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RGVSPORTS.COM VOLLEYBALL TOP 10 RANKINGS

Team Overall District Prv.
1, Mission Vets 27-3 4-0 2
2, Los Fresnos 27-8 4-0 3
3, McAllen Rowe 30-9 3-1 4
4, McAllen High 32-2 3-1 1
5, Mc Memorial 26-2 3-0 5
6, Bro. Veterans 21-10 4-0 10
7, Edcouch-Elsa 21-9 4-0 NR
8, PSJA Memorial 14-7 4-0 NR
9, Bro. Hanna 19-11 3-1 9
10, Shary. High 12-15 2-1 NR

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — As Mission High’s Tuesday football practice came to a close, senior safety David Flores ran to the edge of the practice field and started passing out water balloons.

While Mission High’s defensive players spread out along the sideline, head coach Mario Peña and three of his assistants took positions about 10 yards away. Once the players were all armed and ready, Peña shouted one simple instruction: “Not to the head!” As he turned and blew the whistle, the water balloon barrage began.

“You know how the coaches make us work hard?” Flores said. “Well, now it’s time to get back at the coaches.”

The opportunity is one the Eagles have earned twice this season. The offense can select a coach for every touchdown after 14 points, and the defense gets a shot for every forced turnover after its second, or for a shutout.

Mission’s defense has proven more than up to the challenge so far, compiling 18 turnovers on the year and scoring a touchdown in every game. The play on that side of the ball is a big reason Mission High is 2-2, already matching last season’s win total.

“One of my coaches had mentioned something to the effect of, ‘We’re so tight, coach,’” Peña said. “We talked about it, and I said, ‘Let’s make it fun. Let’s put some goals out here.’”

Despite integrating a lot of new pieces after losing nine seniors to graduation, the Eagles have allowed just 194.8 yards per game.

Peña and his players credited the overall strength to team chemistry and togetherness, brought on mostly by senior leaders Flores, Juan Salazar, Henry Morales and Marc Garcia.

“We’re growing a lot closer, a lot tighter. We do everything together,” Garcia said. “It’s not singles on the team. It’s us. It’s a ‘We’ issue. Last year, we didn’t have a lot of that.”

Garcia is the team’s shutdown corner. He described himself as a quiet player who doesn’t like to smack talk. He prefers playing man to man rather than zone, and often takes the assignment literally.

“If the kill shot presents itself, I’m definitely going to take it,” Garcia said. “I’m not one of the guys that goes after the ball.”

Morales, a free safety, has a similar mentality, saying he “loves hitting.” One of the team’s leading tacklers last season, Morales has returned this year as a more vocal presence. After a season in Peña’s system, Morales has better learned how to diagnose plays, recording multiple tackles for loss on sweep plays during last week’s win against Edinburg High.

“That just comes with experience, knowing our defense and knowing how to adjust,” Peña said.

Flores has been making most of the calls in the secondary, and Salazar has taken a huge step forward at linebacker thanks to his energy and aggression, Peña said. After making just seven tackles in a reserve role last season, Salazar has become one of team’s leaders in stops.

“This is my last year: I’m making it memorable,” Salazar said. “When I graduate, I can look back and say I made it from down here, to up here.”

Next to Salazar at linebacker and atop the tackle leaderboard has been a sophomore: Steven De Leon.

At 6-foot and 200 pounds, De Leon has made an early impact because of his size and his ability to pick up Mission High’s aggressive, blitzing defense. De Leon said he isn’t the fastest player on the field, but he can quickly diagnose where a play is going.

“When he hits, I guarantee you’re going to feel that hit,” Peña said. “With him, it was a matter of transitioning from freshman football to varsity.”

De Leon said he expected to be second string, but he rapidly worked his way to the top of the depth chart. Garcia said De Leon impressed him with his willingness to put in extra time watching film and in the weight room.

“If anybody would tell me to hit a brick, I would hit a brick as hard as I can,” De Leon said. “Run straight through a wall. I would do whatever I can to make it to first string.”

De Leon has been a pleasant surprise, but Flores said the biggest surprise has been the unit as a whole. As district play starts this week, the Eagles are hoping to erase last season’s 1-5 mark.

“We had a good mentality coming in, and we’ve shut people up,” Flores said. “We did lose two, but we’re going to be shutting people up. They’ve doubted us.”

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GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

McAllen Memorial’s Trevor Speights is one of 10 candidates in the vote to determine the Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week award, presented by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and Wells Fargo.

Speights ran for 338 yards and six touchdowns in last week’s 55-20 win against Edinburg North, in the process becoming the Valley’s all-time leading rusher with 7,858 yards.

For the season, he has 1,185 yards and 16 scores.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Speights had received 17 percent of the vote, good for third place. He trailed Houston St. Pius X quarterback Clay Roberts (25 percent) and Groveton quarterback Glenn Thornton (40 percent).

Thornton threw for 528 yards and three touchdowns while running for 58 yards and two more scores.

Voting takes place at TexasFootball.com and runs until noon Friday.

GROUND GAME?

McAllen Rowe coach Paul Reyes isn’t one to look too closely at his team’s stats. Week-to-week, the decisions about who gets the ball and what plays are run on offense will be based on how the opponents are lining up.

As long as the offense produces — and it has, ranking third in the district at 389 yards per game — it doesn’t matter that the team’s running backs have picked up just 21 yards on the ground in three games.
“It just depends on the scheme of what we’ve got,” Reyes said. “We look at things and see what’s our best formation and what’s our best thing of what’s going to happen against the defense.”

While the Warriors have been pass happy, picking up 76.9 percent of their offensive yardage through the air, the quarterbacks have also had some success on the ground.

Quarterback John Perez has run for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow signal caller Jesus Sanchez has run 30 times for 64 yards. Gustavo Salazar has been the team’s leading running back, with just 13 carries for 18 yards.

“A lot of teams widen out and try to take care of the pass and leave the middle open,” Reyes said. “Our quarterbacks know when to check to the draw, so a lot of times, that’s why they get big yards. It just depends on what teams are doing against our schemes.”

STAYING UP

After McAllen High suffered three lopsided losses during the non-district season, one of coach Kevin Brewer’s focuses has been keeping his team confident.

Yes, McHi lost to Odessa Permian, Harlingen High and Corpus Christi Carroll by an average of 38 points. But those teams are a combined 9-2, with plenty of blowout wins on their resumes.

“That’s the danger of playing a schedule like that,” Brewer said. “If you’re not being successful against those teams, it will hurt your confidence. That is something that I’ve addressed. ‘Hey guys, we’re 1-3. But we’re not a horrible 1-3.’”

Brewer has no regrets about scheduling the teams he did. Heading into district play and eventually the playoffs, Brewer said his team will benefit from being able to point to the experience of those tough matchups.

“I’d hope to heck so,” Brewer said. “We took some beatings, and I would hate to have subjected my kids to that and not get any reward out of it. But I think we are. And I’m pretty confident it will pay off in the long run.”

The Bulldogs have found some positives during the first four games, namely running back Josh McGowen, who has run for 540 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Caleb Youngblood has also shown well, completing 54.9 percent of his passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns.

But Brewer has been concerned by his team’s inconsistency, and he isn’t sure how to combat the trend. The Bulldogs have sometimes come out flat on both sides of the ball, and a young defense has struggled to find its identity. All too often, especially on third downs, McHi has given up long touchdowns.

“That’s been way too common for us so far this year: Not being able to put two good halves together,” Brewer said. “That’s where we’re struggling right now, is playing two complete halves in all three phases. We’re just too inconsistent.”

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VALLEY-VOLLEYBALL SCORES

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Non-District

Juan Diego Academy def. La Villa 25-13, 25-14, 25-13

McAllen Memorial def. Weslaco East 25-13, 25-11, 25-11

San Isidro at Monte Alto, not reported

Medical Academy at San Perlita, not reported

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe def. la Joya Palmview 25-9, 25-11, 25-16

McAllen High def. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 25-7, 25-4, 25-14

Mission High def. La Joya High 25-15, 25-5, 25-11

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial def. Edinburg High 25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 25-10, 15-10

Edinburg North def. Weslaco High 25-16, 25-16, 25-22

PSJA North def. Edinburg Economedes 25-16, 25-20, 25-17

District 32-6A

Brownsville Veterans Memorial def. San Benito 30-28, 25-15, 25-21

Los Fresnos def. Harlingen High 25-22, 27-25, 25-17

Brownsville Hanna def. Brownsville Lopez 25-5, 25-8, 25-16

Brownsville Rivera def. Harlingen South 18-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-19

District 31-5A

Sharyland High def. Roma 25-13, 25-20, 25-17

Mission Veterans def. Sharyland Pioneer 25-18, 25-10, 25-17

Edinburg Vela def. Valley View 25-16, 25-21, 25-13

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest def. Donna North 26-25, 25-23, 26-24.

Edcouch-Elsa def. Mercedes 25-8, 25-18, 25-11

PSJA High def. Donna High 25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18

Brownsville Porter def. Brownsville Pace 25-17, 26-24, 25-14

District 32-4A

La Feria def. Progreso 25-20, 25-14, 25-17

Port Isabel def. Grulla 25-18, 28-26, 25-13

Zapata def. Hidalgo 25-22, 25-10, 25-17

Raymondville at Rio Hondo, not reported

Saturday, Sept. 26

Non-District

Juan Diego Academy at La Joya High, noon

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, noon

McAllen Memorial at McAllen High, noon

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at La Joya Palmview, noon

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at Weslaco High, noon

Edinburg Economedes at Edinburg High, 3 p.m.

Weslaco East at PSJA North, 3 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera at Los Fresnos, noon

Harlingen High at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, noon

San Benito at Brownsville Lopez, noon

Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen South, noon

District 31-5A

Sharyland Pioneer at Sharyland High, noon

Valley View at Mission Veterans, noon

Rio Grande City at Edinburg Vela, noon

District 32-5A

Donna North at Brownsville Pace, 2 p.m.

PSJA High at Mercedes, 3 p.m.

Brownsville Porter at Donna High, 2 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at PSJA Southwest, 2 p.m.

District 32-4A

Rio Hondo at La Feria, 1 p.m.

Hidalgo at Port Isabel, 1 p.m.

Zapata at Progreso, 2 p.m.

Grulla at Raymondville, 2 p.m.

District 32-3A

Monte Alto at IDEA Quest, 2:30 p.m.

District 32-2A

San Perlita at La Villa, 7:30 p.m.

VALLEY-VOLLEYBALL SUMMARIES

Tuesday’s Matches

Non-district

McALLEN MEMORIAL DEF. WESLACO EAST

25-13, 25-11, 25-11

McALLEN MEMORIAL — Draik Banks 11 kills, 2 blocks; Lanie Nitsch 7 kills; Taylor Marburger 6 kills, 3 aces, 5 digs, 21 assists; Allie Nitsch 5 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks.

WESLACO EAST — Not reported.

RECORDS — McAllen Memorial 26-2, 3-0; Weslaco East 14-15, 1-2.

District 30-6A

McALLEN HIGH DEF. LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN

25-7, 25-4, 25-14

McALLEN HIGH — Carter Helmcamp 1 kill, 9 assists, 6 aces; Alexi Giusti 2 kills, 23 assists, 3 digs, 6 aces; Julia Monday 6 kills, 1 ace; Hannah Bishop 5 kills; Sydney Pemelton 10 kills; Taylor Helmcamp 9 kills; Kellie Woodin 4 digs, 2 aces.

LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN — Not reported.

RECORDS — McAllen High 32-2, 3-1; La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0-9, 0-3.

McALLEN ROWE DEF. LA JOYA PALMVIEW

25-9, 25-11, 25-16

McALLEN ROWE — Vanessa Lopez 12 assists, 1 ace; Deanna Spear 8 assists, 2 aces, 12 digs; Sophie Luna 10 kills, 1 ace, 1 block; Ryela Rodriguez 8 kills, 3 blocks; Amanda Martinez 9 kills, 2 aces, 12 digs; Mayda Garcia 2 assists, 6 kills.

LA JOYA PALMVIEW — Not reported.

RECORDS — McAllen Rowe 30-9, 3-1; La Joya Palmview 3-15, 0-3.

MISSION HIGH DEF. LA JOYA HIGH

25-15, 25-5, 25-11

MISSION HIGH — Maria Garcia 4 kills, 15 points, 9 digs; Emily Alvarado 4 kills, 11 points, 14 assists; Clarisas Gonzalez 1 kill, 1 block; Michelle Madden 2 kills, 15 pionts, 3 aces, 8 assists; Nicole Reyes 4 kills.

LA JOYA HIGH — Not reported.

RECORDS — Mission High 12-15, 2-1 district; La Joya High 16-8, 1-3.

District 31-6A

PSJA MEMORIAL DEF. EDINBURG HIGH

25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10

PSJA MEMORIAL — Kristi Gomez 21 kills; Stephanie Flores 8 kills; Amanda Aguilera 25 assists; Carla De leon 12 assists, 15 digs; Victoria Maldonado 12 digs.

EDINBURG HIGH — Dezi Marmolejo 6 kills, 1 ace, 25 digs, 37 assists; Marissa Arce 19 kills, 1 ace, 29 digs, 1 assist; Amber Reyes 3 kills, 1 block, 1 ace, 12 digs; Tiana Howard 20 kills, 2 digs; Yessi Molina 2 kills, 1 ace, 15 assists, 20 digs; Elizabeth Olivarez 29 digs, 1 assist; Natalie Rodriguez 7 kills, 10 digs.

RECORDS — PSJA Memorial 14-7, 4-0; Edinburg High 23-6, 2-1.

EDINBURG NORTH DEF. WESLACO HIGH

25-16, 25-16, 25-22

EDINBURG NORTH — Victoria Rogers 10 kills, 2 blocks; Ayissa Maldonado 28 assists, 6 digs, 3 aces; Abri Saenz 41 digs, 2 aces; Lizeth Cavazos 10 kills, 10 digs.

WESLACO HIGH — Not reported.

RECORDS — Edinburg North 22-10, 3-1; Weslaco High 6-21, 0-3.

PSJA NORTH DEF. EDINBURG ECONOMEDES

25-16, 25-20, 25-17

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES — Not reported.

PSJA NORTH — Belle Palacios 14 kills, 12 digs, 2 aces; Stephanie Crispin 14 kills, 2 blocks; Carla Muro 8 kills, 2 blocks; Maryeld Gonzalez 6 kills, 9 digs; Melissa palacios 11 digs; Sam Enriquez 44 assists, 5 digs.

RECORDS — PSJA North 12-14, 2-2 district; Edinburg Economedes 5-21, 0-3 district.

District 31-5A

SHARYLAND HIGH DEF. ROMA

25-13, 25-20, 25-17

SHARYLAND HIGH — Maddie Garza 11 kills, 3 aces, 3 blocks, 12 digs; Paige Jones 6 kills, 2 aces, 17 assists; Caleigh Hausenfluck 14 digs.

ROMA — Kriss Rocha 2 kills, 2 aces, 13 digs; Clarissa Guerra 2 kills, 3 digs, 3 blocks; Lesvia Segundo 4 digs, 2 blockss; Bianca Alvarez 5 assists, 3 kills, 2 digs.

RECORDS — Sharyland High 12-15, 2-1; Roma 8-17, 1-3.

District 32-5A

PSJA HIGH DEF. DONNA HIGH

25-18, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18

PSJA HIGH — Myranda Garza 15 kills, 3 aces, 6 digs, 2 blocks; Sara Jo Hernandez 1 kill, 6 blocks; Natalie Lozano 3 blocks; Mariah West 2 kills, 1 ace, 6 digs, 2 blocks; Jackie Alanis 19 kills, 5 aces, 9 digs, 6 blocks; Valeria Gonzales 2 kills, 2 aces, 6 digs, 38 assists; Gabrielle Fonseca 1 ace, 13 digs.

DONNA HIGH — Not reported.

RECORDS — PSJA High 3-1; Donna High 16-5, 3-1.

EDCOUCH-ELSA DEF. MERCEDES

25-8, 25-18, 25-11

EDCOUCH-ELSA — Samantha Martinez 8 kills, 8 assists, 1 ace, 7 digs, 1 block; Ale Martinez 8 kills, 1 assist, 1 ace, 3 digs, 7 blocks; Cassidy Martinez 13 kills, 1 block; Paloma Ybarra 7 kills, 2 blocks; Alinah Rodriguez 7 kills, 2 blocks; Alinah Rodriguez 8 assists, 1 dig; Maddie Acevedo 1 kill, 2 assists, 3 aces, 13 digs, 4 blocks.

MERCEDES — Not reported.

RECORDS — Edcouch-Elsa 21-9, 4-0; Mercedes 11-11, 1-3.

PSJA SOUTHWEST DEF. DONNA NORTH

26-24, 25-23, 26-24

DONNA NORTH — I’Dasha Sorrell 7 aces, 10 kills; Evelyn DeLeon 3 aces, 7 kills; Nicole Rodriguez 3 aces, 4 kills.

PSJA SOUTHWEST — Not reported.

RECORDS — Donna North 10-14, 0-4; PSJA Southwest 11-15, 1-3.

District 32-4A

PORT ISABEL DEF. GRULLA

25-18, 28-26, 25-14

PORT ISABEL — Caitlyn Rodriguez 9 digs; Danielle Lopez 1 kill, 2 assists, 9 digs; Delma Ozuna 5 kills, 1 block, 17 digs; Evelyn Zarate 1 ace, 1 kill, 3 assists, 5 digs; Sarahi Garcia 7 digs; Shelsie Hernandez 1 kill, 13 digs; Victoria Gonzalez 32 digs.

PORT ISABEL — Not reported.

RECORDS — Grulla 6-4, 0-4; Port Isabel not reported.

LA FERIA DEF. PROGRESO

25-20, 25-14, 25-17

LA FERIA — Belisa Vela 14 kills, 1 block, 2 digs; Camryn Lopez 3 kills, 1 assist; Myah Salas 7 kills, 1 assist, 1 block; Sara Alvarado 6 kills; Annette Ruiz 27 assists, 6 digs.

PROGRESO — Not reported.

RECORDS — La Feria 9-8, 4-0; Progreso 16-8, 3-1.

BY GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — As the third game of Tuesday’s match was nearing its conclusion, Mission Veterans was on cruise control. The once raucous Sharyland Pioneer cheering section had thinned considerably, and the vocal Mission Veterans student section was the one making most of the noise in the opponent’s gym.

For the first dozen or so points, the Lady Rattlers held tight with the Lady Patriots. And then Mission Veterans did what it’s done so often the past four seasons, taking control of the match and cruising to a dominant 25-18, 25-10, 25-17 win.

“I don’t want to say it was easy, but district has always come easy to us, I think,” senior Gabby Lerma said. “Playoffs is when we finally get to taller competition and harder hitting. I think we’re preparing for that.”

At 3-0 in the early stages of District 31-5A play, Mission Veterans is already the lone unbeaten. Pioneer was the only other team to start 2-0.

The Lady Patriots haven’t lost a district match since 2012. That season, they lost just one.

“Everything was just smooth,” senior Daisy Reyna said. “I thought we’d be slow and stuff, because it’s the beginning of the season, but I’m proud of my team. We played good.”

With district wins so commonplace, the Lady Patriots set different goals and targets for themselves. The aim is not just to win the match, but to keep the opponent below a specific number on the scoreboard.

No matter how big the lead, Mission Veterans stresses finishing points with as much authority as possible.

“Every time someone gets set up, our mentality is to put the ball away,” Reyna said. “We need to keep them under 15. We have to win as fast as we can. We have to rack up as many points as we can.”

Lerma said she keeps her focus by thinking about her numbers. She has her eye on other players around the Valley, like defending All-Valley Player of the Year Mayda Garcia at McAllen Rowe, and she’s usually competing with Reyna to have the most kills on the Lady Patriots.

“We’re always trying to beat each other’s stats,” Lerma said. “We pump each other up.”

Lerma got the better of the battle on Tuesday, notching 12 kills to Reyna’s 11. She consistently went to softer, arching shots for easy points, finding openings just behind Pioneer’s block.

Lerma said she used those shots because Pioneer knew her strengths and tried to block her as often as possible. But she and coach Diana Lerma added that the skill will be useful in the playoffs, when Mission Veterans needs to run a quicker offense to topple taller teams with better verticals.

That type of attitude is typical for the Lady Patriots, who often operate with an eye towards the postseason.

“Our team’s expectations are to go undefeated the whole season, and maybe make it to the final four of state,” Reyna said.

Mission Veterans is also using the district schedule to find other players who can step up and complement the big three of Lerma, Reyna and D.D. Ibarra.

Alex Jimenez was the standout on Tuesday, notching nine kills and a pair of blocks.

“Alex did a fantastic job off the middle,” coach Lerma said. “They are stepping it up in practice, and it shows when they come and play.”

[email protected]

GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER

EDCOUCH — When Edcouch-Elsa senior Cassidy Martinez played volleyball during eighth grade, she couldn’t get any higher than the ‘C’ team.

One year later, she was a freshman playing a significant role on varsity. And as a junior, she was the District 32-5A Offensive Player of the Year.

So far as a senior, Martinez has looked better than ever, ranking among the YellowJackets leaders in kills. She hopes to culminate her impressive rise to the top with an outright district championship.

“I’m so happy and so proud of her,” coach Ofelia Griffith said. “She’s worked and earned her way. That’s the kind of player I use not only because of her strong work ethic and great attitude, but because of where she started off.”

Martinez remembers knowing only the basics of volleyball during her middle school days. She could bump and she could spike, but that was about the extent of it.

Griffith, however, immediately saw potential because of Martinez’s impressive vertical and powerful hitting during summer open-gym sessions.

“Once that catches your attention, then you start looking, and you can see potential,” Griffith said. “You have all of those things in place: You have that natural skill and ability, you have that attitude and work ethic, and then when the coaches come in, we’ll put all of that together and we can make something happen.”

Martinez said she always enjoyed volleyball but just didn’t have the same knowledge as a lot of the other players. Being put on the varsity roster from the start of her high-school career, Martinez got to go through more rigorous drills that she said improved her vertical and upped her hitting power.

She was also inspired by one of the YellowJackets seniors at the time, Arianna Tanguma.

“I loved the way she played volleyball, so I wanted to try to be exactly like her,” Martinez said. “It was just the drive to become good. … I went from not knowing anything about volleyball to trying to know everything in that one year.”

All along, Martinez’s primary focuses were adding strength and leaping ability. Without much of a club volleyball scene in the Edcouch-Elsa system, Martinez did it the old-fashioned way, Griffith said: with workouts and drills during the YellowJackets open gym periods.

After starting out as a middle blocker, Martinez graduated into an outside hitting position. She thrived in the new role, earning Offensive Player of the Year honors last season.
“I felt like I did good, but I didn’t do my complete best,” Martinez said. “It was an improvement, but now it’s just a bigger improvement.”

This season, Martinez said she’s more confident, knowing she’s put in the work to add strength each year she’s been in the program.

She’s also taken major steps forward as an attacker by developing her accuracy and placement.

“She’s able to shift her hips a lot,” setter Samantha Martinez said. “She knows how to hit line, she knows how to hit cross angle, and she knows how to hit everything. Depending on how I’m going to give her the set, she’ll do what she needs to do to get the point.”

Cassidy and Samantha are the only two seniors on a roster with two freshmen and four sophomores playing significant time. The older players have taken to showing the younger girls the ropes, sometimes reminding them of little things like what Griffith means when she says to keep the ball low and deep.

Cassidy said the biggest message she’s tried to pass along is to consistently play hard and keep trying to improve — just like Cassidy did when she was coming up.

“She is where she’s at because she’s earned it and she held onto it,” Griffith said. “I have her to the point where she’ll be our go-to person to come in and finish it off for us.”

[email protected]

Saturday, Sept. 19

Non-District

Laredo United def. Sharyland High 25-21, 25-11, 25-16

Juan Diego Academy def. Laredo St. Augustine 25-21, 25-18, 26-24

Santa Maria at Monte Alto, not reported

La Villa at Med Tech, not reported

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe def. McAllen High 23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24

McAllen Memorial def. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 25-2, 25-6, 25-13

La Joya High def. La Joya Palmview 14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 30-28

District 31-6A

Edinburg High def. Edinburg North 17-25, 25-22, 25-17, 14-25, 15-11

PSJA Memorial def. PSJA North 25-23, 25-23, 25-23

Weslaco East def. Edinburg Economedes 25-18, 25-11, 23-25, 25-22

District 32-6A

Brownsville Veterans Memorial def. Brownsville Hanna 28-26, 25-22, 25-22

Brownsville Rivera def. Brownsville Lopez 25-17, 25-7, 26-28, 25-7

Los Fresnos def. Harlingen South 25-20, 25-12, 25-20

San Benito def. Harlingen High 25-10, 27-25, 22-25, 25-20

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans def. Roma 25-12, 25-11, 25-6

Edinburg Vela def. Sharyland Pioneer 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21

Valley View def. Rio Grande City 25-7, 25-20, 25-17

District 32-5A

Edcouch-Elsa def. Donna North 25-11, 25-10, 25-12

Brownsville Porter def. PSJA Southwest 22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20, 15-12

Donna High def. Mercedes 22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16

PSJA High def. Brownsville Pace 25-12, 25-20, 26-24

District 32-4A

La Feria def, Hidago 26-24, 25-17, 25-14

Progreso def. Rio Hondo 25-16, 25-14, 17-25, 25-20

Zapata def. Grulla 25-17, 25-21, 25-16

Port Isabel def. Raymondville 26-24, 25-15, 25-16

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Non-District

La Villa at Juan Diego Academcy, 6 p.m.

Weslaco East at McAllen Memorial, 6:30 p.m.

San Isidro at Monte Alto, 7 p.m.

Medical Academy at San Perlita, 6 p.m.

District 30-6A

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 6:30 p.m.

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya High, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg High at PSJA Memorial, 7 p.m.

PSJA North at Edinburg Economedes, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at Edinburg North, 7 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Hanna, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at San Benito, 6 p.m.

Harlingen South at Brownsville Rivera, 6:30 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Harlingen High, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Sharyland High at Roma, 7 p.m.

Mission Veterans at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at Valley View, 7 p.m.

District 32-5A

PSJA Southwest at Donna North, 7 p.m.

Mercedes at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

Donna High at PSJA High, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Pace at Brownsville Porter, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Progreso at La Feria, 6:30 p.m.

Grulla at Port Isabel, 7 p.m.

Zapata at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

Raymondville at Rio Hondo, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s Matches

District 30-6A

McALLEN ROWE DEF. McALLEN HIGH

23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 26-24

McALLEN ROWE — Vanessa Lopez 47 assists, 14 digs, 2 blocks; Deanna Spear 6 assists, 34 digs, 5 blocks; Mayda Garcia 31 kills, 2 assists, 1 ace, 18 digs, 11 blocks; Kayla Cruz 47 digs; Sophia Luna 15 kills, 10 digs, 2 blocks; Ryela Rodriguez 1 assist, 4 kills, 10 blocks; Amanda Martinez 16 kills, 1 ace, 5 blocks.

McALLEN HIGH — Carter Helmcamp 6 kills, 21 assists, 1 block; Lexi Giusti 7 kills, 18 assists, 2 blocks, 4 aces; Julia Monday 14 kills, 9 digs, 5 aces; Hannah Bishop 10 kills; Sydney Pemelton 10 kills, 4 blocks; Taylor Helmcamp 3 kills, 4 blocks; Kellie Woodin 14 digs, 2 aces; Allison Amaya 9 digs.

RECORDS — McAllen Rowe 29-8, 2-1; McAllen High 31-2, 2-1.

LA JOYA HIGH DEF. LA JOYA PALMVIEW

14-25, 25-19, 25-23, 30-28

LA JOYA HIGH — Not reported.

LA JOYA PALMVIEW — Jazmine Campos 10 aces, 11 assists; Alex Alaniz 5 kills, 3 aces; Brenda Martinez 5 kills, 3 blocks; Diana Moreno 9 digs, 2 aces; Michelle Duggan 4 kills, 1 assist.

RECORDS — La Joya High 16-8, 1-2; La Joya Palmview 3-14, 0-2.

McALLEN MEMORIAL DEF. LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN

25-2, 25-6, 25-13

McALLEN MEMORIAL — Draik Banks 9 kills, 2 blocks; Lanie Nitsch 7 kills, 3 blocks; Taylor Marburger 16 assists.

LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN — Not reported.

RECORDS — McAllen Memorial 25-2, 3-0; La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0-8, 0-2.

District 31-6A

PSJA MEMORIAL def. PSJA NORTH

25-12, 25-23, 25-23

PSJA NORTH — Carla Muro 8 kills, 1 block; Belle Palacios 5 kills, 5 digs; Maryeld Gonzalez 6 kills; Angels Ocha 4 kills, 17 digs, 1 ace.

PSJA MEMORIAL — Kristi Gomez 18 kills; Stephanie Flores 7 kills; Amanda Aguilera 27 assists; Carla de Leon 14 digs, 7 assists; Victoria Maldonado 9 digs.

RECORDS — PSJA Memorial 13-7, 3-0; PSJA North 11-14, 1-2.

WESLACO EAST DEF. EDINBURG ECONOMEDES

25-18, 25-11, 23-25, 25-22

WESLACO EAST — Katelyn Rodriguez 18 digs, 9 kills; Valerie Castaneda 8 kills; Chylee Lefevre 27 assists; Rachelle Cardoza 13 digs.

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES — Not reported.

RECORDS — Weslaco East 14-14, 1-2; Edinburg Economedes 5-20, 0-2.

District 31-5A

EDINBURG VELA DEF. SHARYLAND PIONEER

25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 25-21

SHARYLAND PIONEER — Desiree Garza 11 kills, 4 blocks; Maddie Hatzold 7 kills, 2 blocks; Audrey Smith 7 kills, 17 assists.

EDINBURG VELA — Jaida Muhammad 19 kills, 5 points, 18 digs; Nicole Avelar 18 kills, 10 digs; Julissa Cuellar 13 assists, 7 digs, 5 points; Mariely rebollar 13 assists, 4 points, 6 digs; Dylann Guerra 19 digs, 5 points; Chery Chavez 13 digs, 7 points; Cynthia Hernandez 9 assists, 8 points, 6 digs.

RECORDS — Sharyland Pioneer 20-9, 2-1; Edinburg Vela 27-9, 2-1.

MISSION VETERANS DEF. ROMA

25-12, 25-11, 25-6

MISSION VETERANS — Gabby Lerma 21 kills, 5 aces, 15 digs; Daisy Reyna 8 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs, 1 block; D.D. Ibarra 7 kills, 19 assists, 1 ace, 7 digs, 1 block; Mariah Gonzalez 30 digs; Karina Garcia 14 assists, 7 digs; Alex Jimenez 5 kills, 1 ace, 4 digs, 1 block.

ROMA — Not reported.

RECORDS — Mission Veterans 26-3, 2-0; Roma 8-16, 1-2.

District 32-5A

DONNA NIGH DEF. MERCEDES

22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 25-16

DONNA HIGH — Firstname Lastname # kills, # digs, # assists, # aces; Firstname Lastname # kills, # digs, # assists, # aces.

MERCEDES — Caitlyn Gutierrez 14 kills, 1 block, 33 digs; Victoria Anciso 7 kills, 11 points, 32 digs; Lauren Pitts 6 kills, 3 blocks; Erinn Ramirez 5 kills, 34 digs, 16 assists; Alexa Peña 7 points, 44 digs; Kristen Gutierrez 3 aces, 2 kills, 19 assists.

RECORDS — Donna High ##-##, ##-##; Mercedes 11-10, 1-2.

EDCOUCH-ELSA DEF. DONNA NORTH

25-11, 25-10, 25-12

EDCOUCH-ELSA — Madalyn Acevedo 3 kills, 8 aces, 11 digs, 2 blocks; Jackie De Los Santos 13 assists, 5 aces, 6 digs; Ale martinez 12 kills, 2 assists, 3 blocks, 2 aces; Jackie Alvarado 1 kill, 1 assist, 1 ace,14 digs; Samantha Martinez 9 kills, 9 assists, 1 ace, 6 digs.

DONNA NORTH — Not reported.

RECORDS — Edcouch-Elsa 20-9, 3-0; Donna North 10-13, 0-3.

Non-District

LAREDO UNITED DEF. SHARYLAND HIGH

25-21, 25-11, 25-16

SHARYLAND HIGH — Maddie Garza 8 kills, 3 blocks, 4 digs; Caleigh Hausenfluck 12 digs; Paige Jones 4 kills, 6 assists, 9 digs; Melanie Lazos 11 assists, 5 digs; Blanca Valdez 4 blocks.

LAREDO UNITED — Not reported.

RECORDS — Sharyland High12-15, 1-1; Laredo United not reported.

District 32-4A

ZAPATA DEF. GRULLA

25-17, 25-21, 25-16

GRULLA — Caitlyn Rodriguez 21 digs; Danielle Lopez 3 kills, 6 assists, 8 digs; Evelyn Zarate 4 kills, 1 assist, 8 digs; Shelsie Hernandez 20 digs; Victoria Gonzalez 39 digs.

ZAPATA — Not reported.

RECORDS — Grulla 6-3, 0-3; Zapata not reported.

LA FERIA def. HIDALGO

26-24, 25-17, 25-14

LA FERIA — Belisa Vela 9 kills; Laura Torres 5 digs; Annette Ruiz 3 kills, 1 ace, 11 assists; Sara Alvarado 7 kills, 2 digs.

HIDALGO — Not reported.

RECORDS — La Feria 8-8, 3-0; Hidalgo not reported.